Sudan: North Darfur - New Satellite Images Confirm Mass Displacement From Zamzam to Tawila and Dar As Salaam

North Darfur Update

Recent reports confirm that about three million civilians have fled westward. This displacement follows intense fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The battles have primarily occurred in and around El Fasher, North Darfur. Many displaced people are overwhelming resources in Tawila and Jebel Marra.

A new report from the Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) at Yale School of Public Health was published yesterday. It includes satellite imagery showing "a large convoy moving from Zamzam to Tawila." According to Radio Dabanga, at least three million displaced civilians are now in these areas. This group includes around half a million former residents of Zamzam camp, which has been largely destroyed.

The HRL report uses detailed satellite images to illustrate this situation. It shows over 670 objects consistent with people on foot and animal-pulled carts. These objects were observed along approximately 8.5 kilometers of roads leading from Zamzam IDP Camp to Tawila on April 17, 2025. There are about 450 signs of people walking and around 220 likely animal-drawn carts.

Video footage supports the presence of multiple individuals per cart. Additionally, there are approximately 26 vehicles identified on these roads.

The report also notes another large convoy moving southeast from Zamzam to Dar As Salaam locality. Analysis from April 17 shows 486 objects consistent with both people on foot and carts along roughly 3.75 kilometers of roads.

By April 16, RSF had destroyed over 1.7 square kilometers of the Zamzam IDP camp. This area is larger than 24 FIFA football pitches. The RSF has executed at least 11 humanitarian aid workers and targeted healthcare facilities as well.

The United Nations Security Council reported over 400 civilian deaths due to these attacks. However, the actual number of casualties is expected to be much higher than reported.